GSA awards $33.5M engineering services contract to University of Dayton for advanced manufacturing support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $33,542,505 ($33.5M)

Contractor: University of Dayton

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2022-03-16

End Date: 2023-03-15

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $92.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: R&D

Official Description: ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND COLD SPRAY SUPPORT TO 20

Place of Performance

Location: DAYTON, GREENE County, OHIO, 45433

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $33.5 million to UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON for work described as: ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND COLD SPRAY SUPPORT TO 20 Key points: 1. Contract provides critical support for advanced manufacturing initiatives, aligning with national priorities. 2. University of Dayton, a research institution, brings specialized expertise to the contract. 3. The contract duration of 364 days suggests a focused, project-based need. 4. The use of Time and Materials pricing may present cost control challenges if not closely managed. 5. The contract's value is moderate within the broader engineering services sector. 6. Performance is geographically concentrated in Ohio, potentially limiting broader national impact.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $33.5 million for a one-year period appears reasonable for specialized engineering services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for advanced manufacturing support is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure warrants careful monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and prevent potential overruns compared to fixed-price arrangements. The absence of a specific CLIN structure or detailed breakdown of labor categories makes a precise value-for-money assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is generally expected to yield fair market pricing and encourage innovation. The specific number of bidders is not provided, which would offer further insight into the intensity of the competition and its potential impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is favorable for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive environment, which typically leads to better pricing and service quality.

Public Impact

The University of Dayton benefits through continued research funding and operational support. The contract supports the advancement of additive manufacturing and cold spray technologies. The primary geographic impact is within Ohio, where the University of Dayton is located. The contract likely supports a specialized workforce of engineers and researchers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) pricing can lead to cost overruns if not diligently managed and monitored.
Lack of detailed CLINs or labor category breakdowns hinders precise cost-effectiveness analysis.
Geographic concentration in Ohio may limit the broader applicability or dissemination of findings.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
University of Dayton's specialized expertise in advanced manufacturing is a positive signal for technical execution.
Contract supports critical national defense or industrial base initiatives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically supporting advanced manufacturing technologies like additive manufacturing and cold spray. The market for such specialized engineering support is driven by government investment in technological advancement and defense readiness. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more granular data on the specific services provided, but the overall federal spending on engineering and research services is substantial.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The focus appears to be on securing specialized expertise from a research institution.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service is responsible for overseeing this contract. Oversight mechanisms would typically include regular performance reviews, invoice auditing, and adherence to contract terms. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Advanced Manufacturing Initiatives
Additive Manufacturing Research
Cold Spray Technology Development
Engineering Services Contracts
University Research Partnerships

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Limited visibility into the number of bidders, making competitive intensity assessment difficult.
Geographic concentration of performance may limit broader application of research findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $33.5 million to UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND COLD SPRAY SUPPORT TO 20

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-03-16. End: 2023-03-15.

What is the University of Dayton's track record with federal contracts, particularly in advanced manufacturing?

The University of Dayton has a history of engaging in federal research and development contracts, often in collaboration with government agencies like the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which is also located in Ohio. Their expertise in materials science, aerospace engineering, and additive manufacturing is well-documented through numerous research publications and prior government-funded projects. While specific contract performance data for this exact $33.5 million award is not detailed here, the university's established role as a research institution with significant federal engagement suggests a generally positive track record in delivering technical expertise and research outcomes. Further analysis would involve examining past performance evaluations and the scope of previous related awards to gauge consistency and success.

How does the $33.5 million contract value compare to similar advanced manufacturing support contracts?

Directly comparing the $33.5 million value of this contract to similar advanced manufacturing support contracts is challenging without more specific details on the scope of services, deliverables, and duration. Federal spending on advanced manufacturing can range from small, targeted research grants to multi-billion dollar program support. Contracts for specialized engineering services and R&D support, especially those involving unique university expertise, can vary significantly. However, $33.5 million for a one-year duration suggests a substantial, focused effort rather than a broad, long-term program. Benchmarking would ideally involve identifying contracts with similar technical requirements (e.g., additive manufacturing, cold spray) and similar performing entities (e.g., research institutions, specialized engineering firms) to assess if the pricing is within an expected range.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for engineering services?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract, such as this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor and materials, plus a fee. If not managed rigorously, contractors may not have a strong incentive to control costs or improve efficiency, leading to expenditures exceeding initial estimates. For the government, this necessitates robust oversight, including detailed tracking of hours, verification of material costs, and strong negotiation of labor rates. Without effective monitoring, the value-for-money proposition can be significantly diminished, and the final cost could be substantially higher than anticipated.

How effective is the GSA Federal Acquisition Service in overseeing contracts of this nature?

The GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is generally considered effective in overseeing a wide range of federal contracts, including engineering services. FAS utilizes established procurement regulations, contract management best practices, and experienced contracting officers to manage awards. For T&M contracts, their oversight typically involves detailed review of invoices, monitoring of labor hours and rates, and ensuring that work performed aligns with the contract's scope. The effectiveness can be further enhanced by the agency's access to market data and its ability to conduct cost analyses. However, the ultimate success of oversight also depends on the specific contracting officer's diligence, the clarity of the contract's requirements, and the contractor's compliance.

What are the historical spending patterns for engineering services supporting advanced manufacturing within the GSA?

Historical spending patterns for engineering services supporting advanced manufacturing within the GSA, and across the federal government, have generally shown an increasing trend, driven by national priorities in technological innovation, defense modernization, and economic competitiveness. Agencies like the Department of Defense, NASA, and the Department of Energy are significant spenders in this area, often contracting with universities and specialized firms. GSA, as a primary provider of acquisition services, facilitates many of these contracts. While specific historical data for GSA's advanced manufacturing engineering services is not detailed here, the overall federal investment in R&D and advanced technologies indicates a consistent and growing demand for such specialized support, often awarded through competitive processes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 47QFLA22Q0071

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 COLLEGE PARK, DAYTON, OH, 45469

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $33,542,505

Exercised Options: $33,542,505

Current Obligation: $33,542,505

Actual Outlays: $-14,922

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 17

Total Subaward Amount: $1,727,439

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QFLA18D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline